RUNNING AWAY WITH IT: Eureka gets back on track in 40-14 shellacking of McKinleyville

McKINLEYVILLE -- Visiting Eureka scored 22 points in a two-minute span in the second quarter en route to a 40-14 win over McKinleyville in Big 5 action Friday.

"It was an important game for us," said Eureka head coach Mike McGuire. "We've definitely taken our lumps this season so it was neat to see the kids play so well."

The Loggers led McKinleyville 12-0 -- via touchdown runs by Jake Gordon and Michael McClurg -- and were in a 3rd-and-seven situation on their own 12-yard line when quarterback Alexis Robinson hit Nate Madsen and the big senior rumbled 58 yards.

Two plays later, Daniel Raxa scampered in from 12 yards out and Eureka went up by three scores.

Just 20 seconds later, on Mack's first play after the ensuing kickoff, Eureka's Brandon Dortch intercepted a pass and ran it in from 16 yards out, his pick six helping put the Loggers up 28-0.

On the Panthers' next possession, Logger Kolton Martin scooped up a fumble and raced 43 yards before being tackled at the one-yard line. Gordon then bulled in from one-yard out for the second of his three touchdowns, and the visitors went ahead 34-0.

In the first half, the Loggers' D forced four first-half turnovers and its rushing game racked up 221 yards on 30 carries.

"I think our starting defense did a great job, and they didn't give up any points," McGuire said. "And our offense had six starters out, so we were thrilled to see the seniors step up."

Mack eventually got on the board with 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Dalton Wheeler hauled in an eight-yard TD pass from Laine Grace.

The Panthers scored again in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of a Eureka fumble -- the visitors' only turnover -- McLean Johnson broke through and around the left side for a 31-yard TD run.

Eureka tacked on a final score with 2:50 left, when Gordon scored from four yards out.